Russian legal enforcement detains 25 clandestine gunsmiths in five regions

The FSB said that 116 units of military and civilian firearms with restored combat properties have been withdrawn from illegal circulation.

MOSCOW, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian law enforcement bodies have detained 25 clandestine gunsmiths in five regions of the country, curtailing the operations of 12 illegal workshops, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday.

"As a result of well-coordinated actions, 116 units of military and civilian firearms with restored combat properties have been withdrawn from illegal circulation," the FSB said in a statement.

The law enforcers also seized eight hand grenades, about 6,500 rounds of various calibers, 10 fuses of various modifications, over five kg of gunpowder, eight devices for silent shooting and various accessories for the manufacture of ammunition, it said.

On Monday, the FSB said it had executed another operation to suppress the activities of clandestine gunsmiths, detaining 42 people in 12 Russian regions and seizing 179 firearms. ■